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Better than expected results have come London’s way through hard work

Barrie Colts forward Andrei Svechnikov gets the shot off at London Knights goaltender Joseph Raaymakers and defenceman Andrew Parrott during an Ontario Hockey League game at Budweiser Gardens on Friday, February 2, 2018. (MORRIS LAMONT, The London Free Press)

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This London Knights team has become the epitome of the lunch bucket brigade.

That’s not a bad thing.

It’s something that’s happened by necessity but so far it’s worked out better than many expected.

After dealing most of their flash and dash at the trade deadline the Knights have been forced to play a more streamlined, grinding game without the shake-and-bake that came with players like Cliff Pu, Robbie Thomas and others.

The result has been a team that has to earn every goal, every win. A product of the changes is hard work because in order to remain in a position for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs they have to work hard.

It may not be the prettiest of pictures but the results have been encouraging.

Going into Friday night’s game against the Barrie Colts the Knights were in second place in the Midwest Division and fourth in the Western Conference, the cutoff for first-round home-ice advantage.

That is surprising.

Also surprising is the Knights goals-against total, the second lowest in the Western Conference. Who would have thought, considering how many question marks there were with goaltending and the defence before the season began.

Good defence is a testament to hard work and now with the focus moved from trades to the stretch drive, you can get a good look at where the Knights have improved. One guy the finger is pointed at is defenceman Alec Regula.

“We’ve been pleasantly surprised by his play,” Knights assistant coach Dylan Hunter said. “We’re not surprised that he can play because we knew he was good but we surprised by the way his improvement has gone. Some players improve but it goes up and down but Alec hasn’t had that. He’s been on a steady incline. He’s gotten an identity.”

Regula is one player who needed to get used to the physical style of the OHL. He was a project, although with a big upside. His improvement has been noticeable and he’s earning favourable reviews from NHL scouts.

The change in Regula is obvious on the ice but just as noticeable off the ice.

“As the season progresses you get that confidence especially with a team like this,” Regula said. “I’ve always had the kind of game that I’ve reached now but I just never had the confidence. I was a little bit hesitant making plays. I was trying to find my minutes and we were battling for that. As the season went on you just get more comfortable. I’ve taken some big strides and because of that confidence.”

The roster makeover has allowed young players to play a lot more minutes for Knights. Regula was making steady improvements. The more ice he gets the better he’s become.

“I know I’ve gotten better in just being able to be a reliable defenceman, being able to make the first pass and get the puck out of our own zone,” Regula said.

He said the changes made on the roster caused changes to be made in style of play.

“I still think we have a team that can beat anybody,” Regula said. “Our style of play changed for sure. That’s going to come from trading away so many high-end players. Now we are with one of youngest teams in the OHL so we want to focus on the basics, we won’t be toe-dragging at the blue line, so we just play simple and we play hard.”

Hunter said it was important to tailor the way the Knights play to the personnel they have now. Playing a more conservative game has to be part of how they’ll stay in the hunt for a higher finish in the standings.

As it stands, the Knights biggest struggle has been on their special teams, but that shouldn’t be much of a surprise.